Baptism
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There are many similarities between the Brahmins and the Jews in their<br />
customs of purity and sanctification. This will be a good comparative study.<br />
What are some of the purification that we find similar?<br />
Here are some similarities:<br />
Washing in water (Kuli or Snanam), Sprinkling with water (Jala thalikkal),<br />
Anointing with oil (Thailam Poosal), Pouring oil over the head<br />
(Thailabhishekam), Sprinkling blood (Raktham thalikkal), Covering with<br />
incense (dhoopam veesal), Anointing with Perfume (Sugandham Poosal-<br />
Muron poosal), We still keep Saith (Thailam, Oil) and Muron (Perfume) as<br />
part of the Christian <strong>Baptism</strong>.<br />
Levitical <strong>Baptism</strong>s<br />
A detailed description of Hebrew traditions given in Mishna and Talmud<br />
viewed from the point of view of Messianic Jews please see: A Walk of<br />
Purity (A Study of baptisms) by Peggy Pryor, Ledaber Ministries:<br />
Fayetteville, Tennessee 615-433-8281<br />
"It was customary for the sages (those who recorded the scriptures) to<br />
immerse each day before beginning work. If during the day they had a bad<br />
thought or began to perspire they had to go and immerse. The understanding<br />
being that they must be pure to work in the scriptures. Before the young boys<br />
would begin to study the scriptures each day they would go through an<br />
immersion. Before presenting a sacrifice in the Holy Temple the person<br />
would go through the Mikvah. Even today many people immerse before Yom<br />
Kippur/Day of Atonement, Rosh haShanah/Feast of Trumpets and the<br />
Sabbath. Immersion in the mikvah is an act of self-renewal and re-birth and<br />
therefore, it is customary to immerse as a sign of repentance. When a person<br />
had been through an area of sin it was customary for him to go through the<br />
mikvah. If a person had been very sick he would go through the mikvah. Some<br />
upon rising in the morning would go through the mikvah before studying<br />
Torah. One passing under an Asherah tree becomes impure and must go<br />
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